Chapter Text
Byleth stretched, yawning. She sleepily rubbed her eyes, looking around her familiar environment. “Still dark,” she mumbled, about to return to slumber.
“Good. You’re awake,” her father said, entering her room. “Did you have that dream again?”
Byleth stared at him, blinking. “Both of them, I think.”
Jeralt shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, kid. Just get ready to move out. We’re heading to the Kingdom today. You do remember it’s cold there, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Byleth replied, pulling on her coat. “Be right there.”
Jeralt looked at her clothing choices and shook his head. “Good grief. You’ll freeze in that. Put on something warmer, hey?”
Byleth tilted her head and said, “I’ll be too hot on the battlefield if I put on warmer clothes.”
Jeralt sighed, palming his face. “All right. But if you get frostbite, it’s on you.”
A member of their crew entered, apologizing for intruding. “We have a problem,” he said.
“What’s wrong?” Jeralt asked, crossing his arms.
“You’ll see.” Father and daughter followed their crewmate outside where three young people stood.
“They’re just kids,” Byleth thought. “Why are they all the way out here?”
The blond one bowed. “Our apologies, but we need assistance.”
Jeralt frowned. “What are a bunch of kids like you doing all the way out here so late?”
“Our camping trip went awry,” the blond one said. “Bandits attacked us and we three were separated from the others.”
“What? Bandits?” Jeralt asked, bothered.
“It’s true, sir,” the girl replied. “They attacked us while we slept. “
“They probably thought we would be easy pickings, being the inexperienced nobles that we are,” added the green-eyed boy. “If you helped us out, I’m sure you would be compensated handsomely.”
Byleth observed the trio, curious. “They seem competent, despite what they say.”
“You’re very calm for such a dire situation,” Jeralt prodded suspiciously. “How do we know you’re not leading us into an ambush?”
The green-eyed boy smirked. “You don’t.”
“What he means is,” the girl interrupted, glaring at her comrade, “you’ll have to trust we’re telling you the truth.”
The blond bowed again. “Our lives are in your hands.” The other two rolled their eyes.
“Hmm,” Jeralt said, looking them over. “I’ve seen those uniforms before.”
One of Jeralt’s men ran up, panting. “Bandits approaching the village,” he said.
“Arm up,” Jeralt commanded. “We can’t leave the village defenseless.” Byleth nodded, patting the sword at her hip. Jeralt looked at the teenagers and said, “Are you coming? You’re responsible for what happens if these bandits get through me.”
The three nodded firmly, hefting their own weapons in reply.
“Let’s go,” he said, waving Byleth forward. “Remember what to do?” Byleth drew her sword, her lips set in a straight line.
*
The leader of the bandits rushed at the girl. Byleth leapt in front of her to absorb the blow. Time stopped.
“You absolute fool!” scolded a little girl. “Have you no value for your own life? Or mine?”
Byleth blinked. “I don’t understand,” she said, looking around. “How did I get here?”
The girl reclined back into her green throne. “Honestly,” she scoffed. “If I had not intervened, we both would have died. I need you, fool.” She flipped her hair back and stood up. “I am Sothis, also known as the Beginning.”
“Thank you, Sothis,” Byleth said.
“You are welcome. Please refrain from making such a stupid mistake again.”
“Now what?” Byleth asked.
The little girl huffed. “When time resumes, you will die. Do you want that?”
Byleth shook her head. “If you can stop time, then can you also rewind it?”
“Yes...” she said slowly. “I can do that.” She scowled. “Why is it so hard to remember?” Sothis leaned her head on her fist. “Ah!” She pointed to Byleth. “I am not strong enough to go back far. You will have just enough time to block the axe. Try not to make the same mistake, hmm?”
“Yes, Sothis.”
“Good. I hope to not see you here again.”
Pressure built up as Byleth returned to reality. This time, she faced the bandit with her sword, disarming him. She kicked him back, pushing the girl farther behind her. “What-” the girl whispered.
“Hey-” called out the green-eyed boy. “Over here!” The blond boy joined him as they came closer.
Jeralt crashed through the underbrush on his horse. “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned. “I thought-”
More crashing, from a different bearing, startled the group. Everyone pointed their weapons in the direction of the sound. A boisterous voice called out, “Do not worry, students! The Knights of Seiros have come!” The three teenagers put their weapons down. Jeralt and Byleth remained alert. A short, stocky man rode in on a horse. “You’re not bandits,” he observed. Recognition dawned on his face and he shouted, “Captain! You’re not dead!”
“No, but I wish I was,” Jeralt muttered. Byleth glanced at her father. She tapped him on the elbow. “I’ll explain later, kid.” Jeralt turned to the knight and scowled. “You’re as observant as ever, Alois.”
The stocky man guffawed. “I knew you were alive! Not even death could get one over on the Captain!”
“These your brats?” Jeralt asked, gesturing to the teenagers.
“They’re students at Garreg Mach, yes,” Alois replied. “You should help us escort them back! Lady Rhea will want to thank you.”
“There’s no escaping now,” Jeralt said softly, gazing at Byleth.
Alois followed his gaze and asked, “Oh? Is this your child?”
Jeralt stepped back, allowing Byleth to answer. “I am a bandit,” Byleth answered, testing the knight.
Alois burst into laughter, slapping Jeralt on the shoulder. “Great sense of humor, that one! She takes after you, old man!”
Jeralt eyed Alois with distaste. “Yes, well, I better round up my crew.”
“I’ll come,” Alois said. “I’d love to catch up.”
Jeralt shot Byleth a pleading look. She shrugged, letting Alois tag after her father. “Seiros...” said a sleepy voice. Byleth jumped, looking around. “It’s me, buffoon!” Byleth’s shoulders sagged. “You can’t be rid of me that easily. Now, shoo! I believe those three are trying to catch your attention.”
Byleth sighed and walked over to the three nobles. “Yes?” she asked, sheathing her sword.
“Thank you for saving my life,” said the girl, bowing. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, crown princess of Adrestia. I owe you a debt, allow me to repay it by offering you a place by my side.”
“Now, Edelgard, that is hardly proper,” the blond protested. “After all, we all owe her a favor for rescuing us from those bandits.” He bowed. “Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, crown prince of Faerghus, at your service.”
The green-eyed boy tsked. “Such ill manners, both of you! Personally, I was going to wait to befriend her before plying her with demands.”
The three bickered and Byleth followed their dialogue with her eyes. “It is clear they are all taken with you,” Sothis said. “What do you think of them?”
“I feel like prey under Edelgard’s predator gaze,” Byleth answered. “And Dimitri seems too perfect, like he’s hiding darkness underneath.”
“And the third?” Sothis prodded.
“He seems the most dangerous. He’s all smiles but would gladly stick a knife in his enemy’s back to gain the advantage. He never told me his name.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to know them better on your walk back to, what was the name of that place again? Garreg Mach?”
Byleth blinked, refocusing on her surroundings. “Kid, you ready?” Jeralt asked, peering at her face. She nodded crisply. “All right. Let’s go.”
*
Byleth kept alert, her eyes flicking towards the trees and her ears listening for foreign noises. Only the natural sounds and sights of a forest in spring greeted her. Dimitri leaned into her vision, smiling at her.
“No need to worry,” he said. “I will show you around the monastery when we arrive.”
Byleth opened her mouth to explain she wasn’t nervous, but Claude interrupted. “It’s a place you can see the entirety of Fodlan. People from all walks of life are there. Of course, not all of it’s good.”
“She’ll see for herself soon enough,” Edelgard interjected, annoyed. She pointed. “Look, there it is.”
Byleth’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the fortress before her. “This is a church?” she asked, surprised. Byleth caught up to Jeralt, tugging on the hem of his sleeve.
He clenched his jaw. “She’s here.”
Byleth tilted her head, waiting for an elaboration. None came. Byleth looked up as they passed through the gates. A green-haired woman looked down from a balcony. Her smile unsettled Byleth.
Alois ushered them through the Entrance Hall. “Wait here while I find a place for your people to stay,” he instructed. “Students, with me. Seteth will want a report.”
“When doesn’t he want a report?” Claude muttered. Byleth’s lips twitched. He glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. She blinked at him. His eyes narrowed, studying her face.
“Come on, Claude,” Edelgard huffed, tapping her foot. “Let’s not keep Seteth waiting.”
He turned around and followed the other two, but not before looking back at Byleth one last time.